Connecticut's DeAndre Daniels is guarded by Villanova's JayVaughn Pinkston, right, and Tony Chennault during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Villanova won the game 70-61. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

Connecticut's DeAndre Daniels is guarded by Villanova's JayVaughn Pinkston, right, and Tony Chennault during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013.

Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie speaks with an official during the second half of his team's 70-61 loss to Villanova in an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham) less

Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie speaks with an official during the second half of his team's 70-61 loss to Villanova in an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Fred ... more

Photo: Fred Beckham, Associated Press

Image 4 of 7

Connecticut's Omar Calhoun, right, is guarded by Villanova's Mouphtaou Yarou during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Villanova won the game 70-61. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham) less

Connecticut's Omar Calhoun, right, is guarded by Villanova's Mouphtaou Yarou during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. Villanova won the game 70-61. ... more

Photo: Fred Beckham, Associated Press

Image 5 of 7

Image 6 of 7

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright, left, is guarded by Villanova's Tony Chennault during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright, left, is guarded by Villanova's Tony Chennault during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

Image 7 of 7

Not much has changed as former Big East foes UConn, Villanova collide

1 / 7

Back to Gallery

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- It might not be an old school Big East battle, but Saturday's meeting between Villanova and UConn in the NCAA tournament might be even better.

The seventh-seeded Huskies (27-8) play the No. 2 Wildcats (29-4) in the 9:40 p.m. (scheduled) tip at the First Niagara Center with a spot in next week's Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden on the line.

Since both teams are in the Round of 32, they survived the dissolving of the old conference just fine, with Villanova coming into the tournament ranked No. 6 in the country after winning the regular-season title in the new Big East and UConn entering No. 18 after finishing tied for third in The American.

A year removed from playing each other, neither side expects much to change when they meet again.

"They are one of the typical former Big East teams, real scrappy, really aggressive," UConn senior Niels Giffey said.

"Like Niels said, they're going to be scrappy," added UConn senior Shabazz Napier, who -- odd as it might seem -- has only 10 career points against `Nova in three games. "That's what a Big East team is about, be scrappy and aggressive. We're going to be ready for it. We've got to deliver the first punch."

The Huskies also need to hit the boards. They've had a roller-coaster ride of attempting to do that this season.

Villanova won the last meeting in the old Big East, a 70-61 victory Feb. 16, 2013 at the XL Center.

The biggest difference in the game was the Wildcats' 41-25 rebounding advantage, including 20 offensive boards.

Mouphtaou Yarou, who had 16 rebounds, is gone, but Villanova has three players averaging at least 6.1 rebounds, which is more than the Huskies' top rebounder (Napier 6.0).

"We let them back in the game and they came back and won because we didn't rebound," said UConn junior DeAndre Daniels, who used the word rebounding at least 10 times when discussing the Wildcats. "I feel like if we rebound and keep playing our game, we play hard, we'll put ourselves in a great position to win the game."

Daniels and 7-foot freshman Amida Brimah have been solid on the glass over the last five games with 7.2 and 5.0 rebounds, respectively, but Napier (eight rebounds) led the team in the 89-81 win over Saint Joe's in the NCAA opener.

"They are going to be big throughout the whole tournament because we have to rebound," UConn junior Ryan Boatright said. "In order for us to win games, we have to rebound. And, they are going to have to step up on the offensive end, too.

"They are bigger than them, so they are going to have to step up on both ends of the floor."

The good old days of playing together in the same conference and the great games that took place -- Napier's buzzer beater in 2012 to beat `Nova 73-70 in OT -- will go on the back burner when game time rolls around.

"At the end of the day, it's a basketball game," UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. "I don't care what league we're playing against, we've got to go out there and play.

"I want UConn to come out on top at the end of the game."

Villanova coach Jay Wright said selling his players, especially the younger ones, on preparing for the Huskies won't be as difficult as preparing for second-round foe Milwaukee.

"For a coach, when you play Milwaukee, you know how good they are," Wright said.

"Now our players know how good they (the Huskies) are. ... I think our guys are very dialed in because they have great respect for the tradition and also the current team."